“How many workers have to die before workplace negligence is confronted?”
This question was raised by the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (Manwu) following a series of workplace deaths in the country.
The union on Wednesday said four workers have died in less than 40 days.
“How many more lives should we still lose before we fearlessly confront and uncover the negligence of certain employers in this country?” Manwu asked.
In August, two employees of Cape Advanced Engineering Namibia died while working at the Gammams Water Care Works Wastewater Treatment Plant in Windhoek.
The deaths followed another incident at the same facility in May, when the body of a man was found in a machine used in the water treatment process.
This week, Uis Tin Mining Company employee Fillemon Mwashidange died while at work. Mwashidange was also chairperson of the Mine Workers Union’s Uis branch.
Another worker died at a Chinese construction site in Windhoek on Monday.
“These are lives of family men who left home in an effort to provide for their families but never returned,” Manwu said
The union has called on the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations to investigate workplace safety and possible negligence by employers.
“One injury is just too many. Work must never kill.”
